Oil refining device

ABSTRACT

A receptacle containing an electric heater has an inlet for receiving lubricating oil from an internal combustion engine, a vapor discharge vent for returning vapors to the engine, and an oil outlet for returning oil to the engine. Encircling the heater and heated by it is a hollow non-metallic vaporizing unit. A tube in the receptacle is connected to the oil inlet and forms a perforated loop around the upper end of the vaporizing unit for delivering oil to it to maintain a downwardly flowing film of oil on the outside of the vaporizing unit so that water and hydrocarbons will be vaporized from the oil and be drawn out through the vent.

United States Patent [191 Hines,

[ Jan. 14, 1975 1 OIL REFINING DEVICE [76] Inventor: David M. Hines, 3300 Paxton St.,

Harrisburg, Pa. 17104 [22] Filed: July 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 380,728

[52] US. Cl 123/196 A, 184/624, 208/179 [51] Int. Cl. F0lm H10 [58] Field of Search 123/196 A; 184/624; 208/179, 184; 203/86; 159/13 B, DIG. 1, DIG. 15; 202/234 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,785,109 3/1957 Schwalge 123/196 A X 3,250,687 5/1966 Frank 159/13 B X 3,392,803 7/1968 Robinson et al 184/624 X 3,499,428 3/1970 Stirling 123/196 R 3,505,172 4/1970 Achener 3,616,885 11/1971 Priest 208/179 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 707,595 4/1954 Great Britain 208/184 'IIIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIJ Primary ExaminerManuel A. Antonakas Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brown, Murray, Flick & Peckham [57] ABSTRACT A receptacle containing an electric heater has an inlet for receiving lubricating oil from an internal combustion engine, a vapor discharge vent for returning vapors to the engine, and an oil outlet for returning oil to the engine. Encircling the heater and heated by it is a hollow non-metallic vaporizing unit. A tube in the receptacle is connected to the oil inlet and forms a perforated loop around the upper end of the vaporizing unit for delivering oil to it to maintain a downwardly flowing film of oil on the outside of the vaporizing unit so that water and hydrocarbons will be vaporized from the oil and be drawn out through the vent.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN] M975 Fig.

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i VIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIA OIL REFINING DEVICE In US. Pat. NO. 3,499,428 a unit for the same purpose as the present invention is disclosed. In that patent an elongated vertical electric heater inside a receptacle is encircled by and supports a continuous fin in the form of a helix. Lubricating oil from an internal combustion engine is delivered to the upper end of the heated fin and flows downwardly in a helical path along the tin. The oil is maintained at such a temperature by the heater that water and hydrocarbons are vaporized and are drawn off through a vent in the top of the re; ceptacle and returned to the engine.

Such a device is highly efffective for a considerable period of use for its intended purpose of continually refining crankase oil to reduce smog produced by an internal combustion engine, but is has been found that the oil on the helical fin gradually carbonizes and forms a carbon layer that builds up and interferes with proper transfer of heat from the electric heater to the film of oil flowing over the carbon layer. The unit then ceases to operate properly.

It is among the objects of this invention to correct the above-mentioned deficiency by providing an internal combustion engine oil refining unit in which oil flowing down over a heated vaporizing unit does not form a layer of carbon on the unit.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view;

FIG. 2 is a central vertical section; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections taken on the lines III-III and IVIV, respectively, of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a receptacle 1 has a cylindrical side wall with a downwardly tapered bottom wall provided with a central outlet opening encircled by a threaded flange 2. The top of the receptacle is formed by a removable cover 3 that is screwed onto the upper end of the side wall. This cover is provided with an oil inlet in which a fitting 4 is mounted that is connected above the cover with a throttling valve 5. The inlet of the valve is connected byja suitable tube 6 with a point in an internal combustion engine (not shown) where oil is sent under pressure to the pressure gauge. At the opposite side of the cover there is a vent in which is mounted a fitting 7 that is connected by a tube 8 with the inside of the engine, such as the intake manifold or other source of suction. The flange 2 at the bottom of the receptacle can be connected by a pipe (not shown) with the valve cover of the engine for returning oil to the engine.

Rigidly mounted in the center of the receptacle cover is the upper end of a rod-like electric heating element 10 that extends a considerable distance down into the receptacle. The wires of the heating element extending out of the upper end of the heater are connected to the hot line from the battery in a position to be turned on and off with the ignition switch so that the heater will operate only while the engine is running. The heater draws only about l.4 amperes. The heater is encircled by a vaporizing unit that the heater heats. In accordance with this invention this vaporizing unit is a hollow non-metallic member 11 that can withstand high tempertures and the outer surface of which has the property of draining free of oil whenever delivery of oil to it in a manner about to be described is stopped. Glass has been found to be highly satisfactory for this purpose. Although this vaporizing unit may be cylindrical,

it is preferred that at least its upper part have a downwardly flaring side wall forming a conical outer surface. Below this conical surface the vaporizing unit may be cylindrical, but preferably the flaring side wall extends substantially to the bottom of the unit. The hollow unit can conveniently be supported by the heater by providing the unit with a bottom wall having a central opening, through which the lower end of the heater extends. This projecting end is provided with a screw thread, and a nut 12 that is screwed up against the bottom wall to hold the upper end of the vaporizing unit against the overlying cover. The hollow vaporizing unit can be made from a Pyrex glass flask having an upwardly tapered side wall and a cylindrical neck.

To deliver oil to the vaporizing unit, a tube 14 connected to the outlet of inlet fitting 4 is looped around the neck of the glass unit close to the upper end of its tapered side wall. The tube is provided with a series of perforations 15, through which oil is delivered to the upper end of the conical surface of the unit. The inlet valve 5 is adjusted so that a thin film of oil will continuously flow down the outer surface of the hot vaporizing unit at a rate that will maintain the oil temperature of the film between about 220 and 320 F., which can be measured by a thermometer 16 mounted in the side of the receptacle below the vaporizing unit. The volatiles in the heated oil are vaporized and drawn off through the vent.

The oil falling away from the bottom of the vaporizing unit flows onto the upper surface of a plate 18 resting on the top of the tapered bottom of the receptacle. Although the plate could fit the inside of the receptacle and be provided near its edge with perforations for oil to pass through, it is simpler to make the plate polygonal as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 so that it will have free edges spaced from the receptacle side wall. The plate is made of a material, such as magnesium, that will react with the sulfuric acid in the oil flowing over it to neutralize the acid.

It has been found that by making the vaporizing unit of non-metallic material, preferably of glass as described herein, oil will not remain on its outer surface and carbonize there after the engine has been shut down. When the oil feed to the vaporizing unit is stopped, the oil covering the unit at that time continues to flow down the glass surface and drips from its lower end until that surface is free of oil and clean. Consequently, this improved oil refining unit has a much longer useful life than the one shown in the abovementioned patent and also is easier to assemble.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine oil refining device in which a receptacle containing an elongated electric heater has an oil inlet and a vapor discharge vent in its upper part and an oil oulet in its bottom, the vent being adapted to be connected with the inside of an internal combustion engine; a hollow non-metallic vaporizing unit encircling said heater for heating thereby, said vaporizing unit being an upwardly tapered flask provided with a hole in its bottom, said heater exthereto to maintain a downwardly flowing film of oil on the outer surface of said flask, said outer surface being characterized by draining free of oil whenever delivery of oil to it stops, whereby oil does not carbonize on said and forming a loop around the upper end portion of 5 surface.

said flask provided with perforations for delivering oil 

1. In an internal combustion engine oil refining device in which a receptacle containing an elongated electric heater has an oil inlet and a vapOr discharge vent in its upper part and an oil oulet in its bottom, the vent being adapted to be connected with the inside of an internal combustion engine; a hollow non-metallic vaporizing unit encircling said heater for heating thereby, said vaporizing unit being an upwardly tapered flask provided with a hole in its bottom, said heater extending downwardly from the top of the receptacle and through said flask and hole, means mounted on the projecting lower end of said heater supporting the flask, and a tube in the receptacle connected to said oil inlet and forming a loop around the upper end portion of said flask provided with perforations for delivering oil thereto to maintain a downwardly flowing film of oil on the outer surface of said flask, said outer surface being characterized by draining free of oil whenever delivery of oil to it stops, whereby oil does not carbonize on said surface. 